Football

Have I mentioned that Thomas loves football?
He does.
As soon as he puts on his helmet he turns into a "football player" and a good one at that.
Today I was folding clothes on the bed and he ran in ready to play.
We tossed it back and forth for a few minutes and then he got distracted.  So I continued to fold clothes.
When I suddenly felt the football hit me square in the side of the face.
This isn't the first time or the last time.
But, it is the first time that I started crying real tears.
Yes you read that right.  I started to cry and I couldn't stop.
Thomas looked at me for a minute and then said, "Sad?"  In his "talking to baby voice"
Then he started to fake cry, and wipe his hands over his eyes.  Like you do when you sing the babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah.
Then he said, "funny!"
Then he asked me to pick him up on the bed.  I thought that he wanted to give me a hug and one of his fabulous kisses....
As I continued to fold clothes and cry I realized this wasn't what he had in mind.  I realized when the football hit me on the other side of the face that he just wanted to play football.
He had his helmet on and that makes him a "football player" and throwing football's is what "football players" do.

* NOTE.... Why I was crying remains a mystery to me.  The only explanation that I can give is that I am 39 weeks pregnant and I got 3 hours of sleep last night.  Plus the kid has an arm and it hurt.

Simple Abundance... Solitary Pleasures

Quote for JULY 27 from the book Simple Abundance. A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.  Written by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  I got it at the library yesterday and I am simply inspired by every quote I have read so far.  Highly recommended.

Solitary Pleasures

"Alone, alone, Oh!  We have been warned about solitary vices.  Have solitary pleasures ever been adequately praised?  Do many people know they exist?" 
- Jessamyn West

What are your solitary pleasures?  What makes us FEEL happy?  What secret interests do you have?  What would you love to learn about?  What are our favorites?  What skill do you want to acquire?  There is a fabulous world out there that is waiting to be discovered.  We just need to do it before the joy of living completely unravels.

For instance, this little guy is obsessed with all helmets.  We unfortunately/fortunately only own a fire chiefs hat.  So he has to use his imagination.  He is usually a football player that wears a mask and rides on a skateboard.   He even lets me play with him!  Don't mind the few extra pounds in the picture... I am 39 weeks pregnant and READY to have this baby.  Anyway, back to what I was saying.  He is obsessed with helmets.  He finds them everywhere we go.  At the store we get to try them ALL on.  At Papa and GrandMary's.  If you have an old one hiding in your house or garage... He can find it for you.  Seriously.  He is fascinated with them.  I hope that his passion for helmets gets him someplace someday.  Who knows where that is but, for the meantime I get to laugh really loud and take some funny pictures with my helmet loving little boy.

As for me...  and my solitary pleasures.

Today my favorite childhood game(s) would be:  playing barbies, red rover and jumping on the tramp.
My favorite childhood sport: basketball (even though I have always been fascinated by dancing)
My favorite movie as a kid:  Cinderella, Saturdays Warriors, The Parent Trap.
My favorite book as a child:  The American Girls Collection.  The Baby-Sitter's Club.  Amelia Bedelia.
Favorite singer as a child:  Classical music was ALWAYS present in my home but as far as popular music I was deprived as a young child.  I did spend hours making up dances to Wilson Phillips Hold On.  
The Best time I ever had as a child:  Would be when my family would go water-skiing.  I don't even know if I can paint the picture of how crazy and fun it was.  Just try to imagine over 30 people on one houseboat in the middle of Lake Powell for over a week.  LOVE IT.
The Best time I had as a teenager:  I loved summers growing up.  Bridge Jumping.  Being with friends.  Snow shacks.  Water-skiing.  Rigby Lake.  The Drive-In.
If I could instantly acquire three additional skills:  Photography, ballet dancing, painting and I would love to garden because I LOVE flowers.
Daring things that sound intriguing: Sky diving, being a good public speaker, and....
Vacations I would love to go on: All of Europe.  Mostly Rome and Ireland.

Today in my spare time I:  Go for walks, like to shop/look for beautiful things, eat good food, read, watch Gilmore Girls and spend time with people that are inviting and inspiring.

The Mother's Magazine in 1915 said, " Every woman ought to have some pet  interest in life, outside of the everyday routine which composes her regular occupations.  What is yours?"  

LUCKY

             (Packer family reunion 2010)

It is 3:11 a.m.  right now and 79 degrees in our house.  It is finally starting to cool off.
Tonight everyone in the family is sleeping restlessly.
We had a busy and tiring summer day.  Why aren't we all knocked out?
We had cousins that came to visit.  We went swimming and practiced our diving. Checked out the Gossner and Peppridge Farm factories.  We had our naps interrupted by the fire alarm going off.  We saw the campus and ate Aggie ice cream.  Then we finished off the evening up Green Canyon with a fire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows.  We watched the sunset and
We had the perfect summer day.  The kind where you are exhausted but loved every minute of it.
Still tonight everyone is sleeping restlessly.
I am on the couch with Thomas as he doses back off to sleep.
Our neighbors just pulled in with their bass pumping in their big truck.  (oh the joys of apartments)
I am watching Thomas rub the corners of his blanket for comfort.
The muscles in his body just tightened and relaxed... meaning that just like his dad... he is asleep.
I am watching as his hands slowly relax away from the corners and he drifts off to dreamland.
His dream must be a good one because he keeps smiling.  I pray he doesn't have scary dreams yet.  He is too little for monsters and bad guys.  Too little to know of fear and horror.
I am listening to him snore... in his deep breathing sort of way.
Even if I am restless I am enjoying my time just being with him.  So peaceful.  It has given me time to think about just how lucky I am.  Lucky to be his mother.  Lucky to put salve (it really is a word I promise... but for all of you who don't know what I mean... Neosporin is a pretty common term) on his scraped up knees.  Lucky to laugh at his growing sense of humor.  Lucky to get an occasional snuggle from him.  Lucky to get hugs and the best kisses ever.  Lucky to tickle his legs as he falls asleep at night. Lucky to be humbled and to learn and grow with him.  Lucky to hear him sing "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam." Lucky to play football, to wear helmets and even skateboard with all day long.  The energy he has!  LUCKY I tell you.  LUCKY.
Perhaps I feel so LUCKY tonight because of this tragic story.  My heart goes out to them during this time of need.  I don't want to even imagine going through something this tragic.  I don't think I could be as strong.
Tonight I have a prayer in my heart for them and I continue to feel LUCKY for things that are important.  Things that make me LOVE.  Things that make me SMILE.  Things that are ETERNAL.  Things that make me feel LUCKY.

Today my life is GOOD

TODAY MY LIFE IS GOOD.

Today my life is good... because when I woke up this morning and walked into Thomas's room to check on him I realized he sleeps exactly like his dad.  On their side with one leg pulled up... cute little bums in the air.  Then I went and laid back down in bed just because I could.

Today my life is good... because when Thomas woke up he came and climbed into bed with me and fell back asleep.  I got to snuggle with him for another hour.  This is rare.  Today I love being his mother.

Today my life is good... because I was able to go to the doctor and hear the miracle of my baby boys heart beat.  I am measuring 37 inches.  I feel big, but soon I will be able to meet him.  How can I be so anxious and excited at the same time?  

Today my life is good... because I was able to do laundry in my very own washer and dryer.  I love the smell and feeling that things are clean and fresh.  I take pride in being a housewife.  I knowing that there is a better feeling in the house when things are clean and neat.  Just not too clean... where is the fun in that. 

Today my life is good... because I was able to take a nap and relax.

Today my life is good... because I went to the library.  I love to be inspired by the words of others.  Inspired to be better.  The best me.  I can do this when I read about others lives that inspire. 

Today my life is good... because we had delicious salmon for dinner.  

Today my life is good... because I have Daniel and Thomas in my life.  I was able to spend the whole day watching them laugh, teach and learn together.   Thomas spent the day riding around his skateboard and talking about football helmets.  Daniel hung up frames for me on the wall.  Even if I am particular.  I am so lucky that I have them... so lucky to be theirs. 

Today my life is good... because I have my health and strength.  You never know when it can be taken away.   

Today my life is good... there is a lot that is unknown.  I pray for the guidance to make the best decisions possible.  I pray for strength and goodness.  I pray for passion and understanding.  

Today my life is good... My simple joyful life is GOOD.  For this I am grateful.  

Family, isn't it about time?

The last few weeks we have spent quality time with family and it was about time. 

We went to the Logan Zoo with the Thompsons and the Jones's.  Thomas, Graham, Morgan, Byron, Lily, Carmen and Ethan.  It is fun being so close to cousins.  Thomas just watches them and wants to do everything that they can do.

For the fourth of July weekend we were able to go to Rexburg and that meant going to the cabin with Grandpa and Grandma.  We hiked down in and it rained on us most of the time.  It was still beautiful and Thomas was able to see his first Rainbow.  If only the mosquitos didn't eat us alive.

We also watched a lot of firework shows and Thomas loved them... He would say "WHOA... Did you see that" after every firework that went off.   Friday night we went to the show at Rigby Lake.  Saturday we went to the show in Driggs.  On Sunday we had our own show that Ty and Daniel put on for us.  It was fantastic until Ty almost blew up us and the house.  

He might of eaten a little too much candy!

There was a lot of "Uncle Ty" and "Uncle Brady" time.  Which included sleeping on the tramp.  Or just being the morning wake up call.

There was more cousin time.  Thomas, Suzy and Owen eating marshmallows after lunch on Sunday while all of the adults sat out and relaxed under the trees.

We were able to go to Park City for the Phil Packer Reunion.  Here we are looking at some of the shops on Main Street.  I had never been and I was very impressed with my first visit.  I highly recommend it to anyone.

More cousin time that Thomas ate up.  He isn't quite big enough to be a part... just an admirer from a distance.  This is Anderson, Emory, Byron, Suzy, Ethan, Thomas and Carmen.

He also got in a lot of Grandma and Grandpa Packer time.  We were able to stay with them in their condo and he loved all the attention that he got from them.  Plus he is drinking someone else's pop right here and that in and of itself makes him content with life.  

We LOVE family and are lucky to have them in our lives.  THANKS FOR ALL OF THE FUN!